What is this place, a living hell surrounded by a sea of mud?
With bodies smashed as scattered wrecks, the distant guns a hollow thud.
How came I here into this place where lives are wrecked by single shot?
To disappear into the mire, so very soon to be forgot.
My comrades all smiled yesterday as we sat laughing playing cards,
forgetting in fond revelry death lie in wait a hundred yards.
A match was struck ,a sudden glow as cigarettes were passed around,
I watched smoke curl into the sky and lay back on the sodden ground.
Why am I here, hard to believe my life could ever end this way,
to feel such loathing feel such hate, when did my other self betray?
If God exists where is He now, to leave me here to die alone?
All I can do is look askance as hungry rats devour dead bone.
Oh just to dream of home in May, where buds hang heavy from the trees,
my love would spin around and laugh, pink flowers dance about her knees.
To smell sweet grass so rich and green, silk ringlets stroke against my arm,
so safe within our world of peace, our world of innocence and calm.
A flaming madness fills my head, eyes blinded by a sea of gas,
I wish to leave this evil place, not disappear into the mass.
Dear God do not desert me now, I cannot face another day
of screaming shells and strangled cries, that in my head are want to stay.
Author notes
We will remember them-
A contest entry
- Best Writes Since 1st November 2008! by xxRainbowDawnxx.
700 points, ended November 15, 2008, 64 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Memories of Sacrifice - Winklings #142 by Lyndon.
1750 points, ended November 17, 2008, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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A vivid portrait of the day to day life of a soldier - often glamourized but not glamourous at all. I am sure many warriors wonder where God has gone in the midst of all the carnage.
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So sad... all the best to you.
In Remembrance.
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How creeply would that be... Complete solitude, like those cowboy films... just vast nothingness with barely any humans around.
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You have touched on my one passion (WW1) with this wonderful poem.I think you have managed to portray what i am sure ran though the minds of many caught up in the horror of this conflict.
An excellent read and a pleasure in doing so
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